iaea – umreg meeting, vienna, 07.11.2012 impact of uranium mill tailings on water resources in...

IAEA – UMREG Meeting, Vienna, 07.11.2012

Impact of Uranium Mill Tailings on Water Resources

in Mailuu Suu, Kyrgistan

Frank Wagner, Hagen Jung, Sven Altfelder, Thomas Himmelsbach

Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) Hannover - Germany


To advise the Federal Government and the German industry in all questions related to

geosciences and natural resources.

BGR Mission / Responsibilities

Budget and Personnel

765 staff of which

approx. 50 % upper level civil servants

approx. 50 % upper middle-level, middle level and lower level civil servants

and 28 trainees

€ 65 million core budget

approx. € 15 million additional funds

(in 2011)


Organisation

4 Departments (thematic), 17 Sub-Departments

1. Energy Resources, Mineral Resources

3. Underground Space for Storage and Economic Use

2. Groundwater and Soil Science

4. Geoscientific Informat., Internat. Cooperation

Raw Materials Agency ( DERA)

Geology of Mineral Resources

Geology of Energy Resources, Polar Geology

Exploration of Marine Resources

Geochemistry of Resources

Geophysical Exploration, Technical Mineralogy

Basic Information, Groundwater and Soil

Groundwater Resources, Quality and Dynamics

Soil as a Resource, Properties and Dynamics

Geological-geotechnical Exploration

Geological-geotechnical Site Assessment

Subsurface Use, Geological CO2 Storage

Geological-geotechnical Safety Analyses

International Cooperation

Geodata, Geological Information, Stratigraphy

Central Seismological Observatory, Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Geo-Hazard Assessment, Remote Sensing

GeoBusinessCommission‘s Office


Background & Motivation

• Mining and processing of uranium ore

in Mailuu-Suu from 1946-1968

~3 Mio. m³ waste rock and tailing

material deposited in vicinity of rivers

and instable slopes.

• Direct/indirect exposure of the

deposits by tectonic activity/

landslides. Scenario: Erosion,

mobilisation, contamination

downstream ( Fergana Basin,

Uzbekistan)

• The possible hazard in Mailuu-Suu

attained international awareness

(TACIS) World Bank initiated

„Disaster Hazard Mitigation Project“

Project Background

Tailing 3

Tailing 5


Techn. cooperation project Kyrgistan - Germany

Funding: 300,000 EUR - Ministry of Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany

Project Period: 2006 - 2008

– Long-term expert seconded to Mailuu-Suu (08/2006 – 05/2008)

Partner Institutions:

– Ministry of Emergencies of the Kyrgyz Republic (MOE)

– Local authorities, e.g. the Sanitary-Epidemic Station (CEC)

– Institute for Radiation Protection and Radioecology, University Hanover (ISR), Germany

– World Bank “Disaster Hazard Mitigation Project” (DHMP)

Project frame


1. System understanding:

• Baseline Study assessing initial contamination status of water resources, as well as their vulnerability for future contaminations.

• Studying the mobility and transport path of relevant contaminants in Mailuu-Suu.

2. (Ground-)Water Resources Monitoring:

• Implementation of a monitoring network to assess impacts of geotechnical activities on surface and groundwater resources.

• Installation of Monitoring stations, supporting sustainable monitoring by local authorities

3. Capacity Development:

• Providing monitoring equipment, guidelines, professional training.

• Assessing & improving laboratory capacities

• Awareness Raising, disseminating recommendations in public events

Objectives of BGR project


Geographical & Geological Frame

• Mailuu Say river valley with strong relief, major tributaries feed Mailuu Say

• 23 Tailing impoundmends, 13 waste rock dumps in close vicinity of Rivers

• Central water supply partly available for Mailuu Suu, city area, domestic wells tapping shallow aquifers are used in S´ M-S

• Cretaceous ore bearing rocks outcrop in central Mailuu Suu.

Scetch cross section


72°25'30"E 72°27'30"E 72°30'0"E

72°25'30"E 72°27'30"E 72°30'0"E

41°1

4 '0"

N

41°1

4 '0"

N

41°1

6 '30

" N

41°1

6 '30

" N

41°1

9 '0"

N

0 500 1000 1500 Meters

14

23

2

13

14

12

16

20

21 2211

17188

3

91910

7

5

6

3

2

429

1

30

18

28M1

12

1121

20 19

33

22

165 M2

M46

2314

M5

35

M6

M9

26

8

24

25M8

17

M731

27

15

M10 M11

9

34

38, 39, 36, 37, 32, 10

7

13

Tailings Dumps, waste of uncondition ores

Sampling StationCity area

Station 14, Tailing 16

Hydrochemical Monitoring of Water Resources

Assessing contamination status and risk potential of water ressources based on:

39 existing sampling locations

• Seepage water (dumps, tailings)

• River water

• Springs

• Shallow wells (Holocene aquifer)

• Deep wells (hardrock aquifer)

+ 11 wells drilled by BGR in shallow aquifer (M1-M11)

Sampling 2x / year, observed parameters:

• Major cations, anions,

• Trace elements (incl. U, Th, As, … )

• Stable isotopes (2H, 18O)

• Radiochemical analysis

Station 11, Tailing 5

Station 10

Station M1 Station 28


Aquifer Identification & Characterization

qH & rive r M -S

<12 <4

Agglom . C lustering: Tree d iagram fo r 33 casesW ard-M ethod, Squared Euklid ic d istances

6_3

6_2

6_1

7_3

26_1

28_1

18_1 3_

23_

129

_122

_125

_117

_321

_116

_3 8_3

24_1

10_3

10_2 8_

110

_1 4_3

30_1

27_1

23_1

31_1

19_1 1_

34_

24_

12_

11_

21_

1

0

100

200

500

E l.C ond.

C a, M g,N a, K , C l, SO ,4

H C O 3

As, BO 2 ,C u, F, L i, M n,M o, N i, R b, Sb, S iO , S r, 2

Th, U , V

23 Variables

R iverK -S

<200

deep G W<0.3 7

“Techno-genic”<125

G W (qH ?), SW,con tam .8 - >80

Origin

U (µg/L)

S N

Dis

tanc

e

Sam ples

"Technogene" (Tailing/dumps)

Tributaries M-S

River M-SRiver K-ZDump pit 10

GW - spring IsolitGW - HoloceneGW - well Lamp-FGW - springsGW - Artesian

River M-S

Ca,Mg-HCO3

N S

River K-S

(Na,Mg-SO4)

„Technogene“

Na-SO4,HCO3 (Ca,Mg)

Cluster analysis

„Hydrochemical Fingerprinting “ approach to: • Characterization of water samples • Identification of genetical relationships

Water samples form distinct groups of different origin (river, technogene, aquifer)

Hydraulic connection M-S river - shallow GW River water samples along a mixing line, end

members upstream M-S and Kulmin-Say

Piper diagram


Status of Contamination

Generally, >50% of sampled river and ground water fail international drinking water criteria. Dissolved substances of chemotoxic relevance:

U (up to 36 mg/L), SO4 (up to 5 g/L),

F (up to 10 mg/L), As (max. 1.8 mg/L)

Dissolved Uranium in natural water resources:

• Mailu Suu River: NS trend, 0.3 µg/L 2 µg/L

• Higher U levels in Tributaries, Kulmin-Say (>100 µg/L)

• Shallow GW: central Mailuu Suu (up to 30 µg/L), locally even higher

WHO 2004: U 15 µg/L, SO4 500 mg/L, F 1,5 mg/L, As 10 µg/L

Samples Contaminant

% < MDL (ICP-MS/ ICP-OES)

% < Standard, WHO 2004

% > Standard, WHO 2004

0 20 40 60 80 100 %

U

SO 4

F

As

108

108

108

108

Deep GW River

M-S

TributariesM-S

Shallow GW

Technogene:Tailings, Dumps

0.0

0.1

1.0

10.0

100.0

1000.0

10000.0

100000.0

U(u

g/l )

75 perc.Median25 perc.

Max.

Min.

15 µg/L (WHO)


Methods

• Collecting solid tailing material (TACIS!) from Tailing No. 3 and associated pore water.

• Mineralogical & radiochemical analysis of solid samples regarding Uranium, Thorium, Radium and Polonium.

• Laboratory (batch) experiments studying specific mobilisation rates (pH, redox, CO3).

Understanding the dissolved species, their transport behaviour and path.

Risk potential of tailings as a contamination source I

TW 304

TW 305

TW 306

TW 307

1010

1000

990

980

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Ele

vatio

n [m

]

Length [m ]

G rave l cover 1958 - 1961

G rave l cover 1966 - 1967

C oncre te cover

Talus dam

S econdary dam 1995

S econdary dam 1968

U pper dam 1961

leaking g roundw ate r

W ater table 17 .04.2002W ater table 17.08 .2001

Hard rock (Cretaceous)

S andy loam w ith g ravel

M ixed substrate(Ta ilings w ith debris)P ioneer dam


Risk potential of tailings as a contamination source II

0

10

20

Teufe [m uG

OK

]

U O +O 2(U(IV ) (V I)2 2 O O )2

Calcite d isso lutionCa + CO2+ 2-

3

Oxidation Uraninite Surfaces

(1,3 - 2,1 m g )2 -1

U(VI)-Mobilisation (0,8 - 1,9 mg m d )-2 -1

U(VI)-Transport

CaUO (CO )Ca UO (C O )

+ 20% kollo idal

2 3 3

2 2 3 3

2-

UO O + 4HCO H O + UO (CO )

Ca

2 3

2 2 3

-

4-

2+ + UO (CO ) CaUO (CO )

2 3

2 3

4-

2-

?

Discharge?

Relevant results improving process understanding:

• Uranium (238, 234) radionuclides dominate radioactivity of pore water, other radionuclides negligible.

• Identified major uranium source minerals: Brannerite, Uraninite (picture) mobilisation rate ~1,5 mg m-2 d-1

• Dissolved Uranium form stable, highly mobile species ((Ca-)Uranyl-Carbonates).

• Major limiting factors: pore water exchange; hydraulic connection of basis to shallow aquifer.

(SEM coupled EDX)


Hydrochemical monitoring of water resources in M-S:

• Elevated levels of U and other contaminants in rivers and shallow GW

• Downstream transport of contaminants (NS) in both shallow aquifer and Mailuu-Say river, major contribution through tributaries

• Successful genetic clustering of the sampled water using hydrochemical fingerprints

• Uranium mobilisation within tailing impoundments has been quantified

• Still not quantified:

- Percolation of seepage water from tailings into basis layer;

- Contribution deep aquifers, e.g. flooded mines

Conceptional understanding of the Uraniumcontamination path in Mailuu Suu

Results of Technical Activities


Building Capacities in Water Monitoring

protective pipe

filter pipe

gravel packing

basement casing

concrete base

counter filter (sand)1 m

min 1 m

sealing swelling clay, insulation sand + bentonite 10:1

1. 5-day Monitoring Seminar in Mailuu Suu (local authorities, M-S inhabitants, MoE/PIU):

- Introduction to hydrogeological and monitoring concepts,

- Handover of monitoring equipment, field kits, training in maintenance and usage,

- Establishing a local monitoring group, training-on-the-job

2. Kyrgyz laboratory capabilities:

Round Robin tests to evaluate laboratories with ability to determine dissolved U

No national laboratory with sufficient analytical skills identified (criteria: max. detection limit for dissolved U 15 µg/L)


Awareness Raising Campaign

Organizing public information events / press conferences, in cooperation with MoE (Mailuu Suu), dissemination of information in local media, e.g. local press, leaflets:

• Informing local community about aim and purpose of monitoring stations

• Informing about health risks and indications for contaminated water

• Recommending specific water usage behaviour water consumption as well as food chain

Water source Drinking Livestock Irrigation

Centr. water supply yes yes yes

Deep wells (No)* yes yes

Shallow wells No no no

Mailuu-Say River (Yes)** no yes

Other rivers No no no* Some artesian wells provide water with drinking water quality.** Boiling before consumption recommended

Indicator Limit Unit

Alkalinity 350 mg/L

Sulphate 180 mg/L

Electr. Cond. 1000 µS/cm

Standard parameters potentially indicatingcontaminated water

Note that direct determination of contaminats cannot be substituted.

Recommended water consumption and usage in Mailuu Suu valley.


1. Survey if contaminated seepage water is still evident, catchment / disposal is recommended to reduce environmental contamination

2. Continuation of systematic information campaigns to improve awareness and reduce risks of affected local population

3. Advisory companionship of the monitoring activities in Mailuu suu. Proposed monitoring approach:

Upgrading laboratory capacities long-term allocation of funds, expertise

Major Recommendations & Lessons Learnt

Approach Objective Frequency Determinands

1. Surveillance monitoring

To define baseline and long-term trends

annually / 3 yearly

Full water analysis

2. Operational monitoring

To observe water resources „at risk“

6 monthly responsive parameters

3. Investigative monitoring

To identify/observe pollution sources

high frequency

indicator parameters


The monitoring group on the job….

Thanks for your kind attention !

Our gratitudes for kind cooperation and continuous support to:

- All PIU members from the Ministry of Environment MoE

- Mailuu-Suu authorities, esp. Sanitary-Epidemic Station CEC

- University Hannover, ISR (Institute for Radiation Protection and Radioecology)

- Members of the DHMP (Worldbank), incl. colleques from WISUTEC & WISMUT

-----------------------------------------------------Involved colleques from BGR:Dr. Hagen Jung Mr. Frank SchmidtDr. Frank WagnerMrs. Cornelia Koch Prof. Dr. Thomas Himmelsbach

Acknowledgements


i70° East of Greenwich 72° 74° 76° 78° 80°

70° East of Greenwich 72° 74° 76° 78°

44° N

42°

40°

38°

44° N

42°

40°

38°

Ysyk Köl

L. Song-Kel

ToktogulReservoir

L. Chatyr-Kel

Kyzyl - Suu

Kurshab

Oy-Tal

Kek - Art

N aryn

Ala

-Buka

Talas

Chatkal

Chu

Aksay

Toxka

n

Hen

Vakh

ash

Surkhob

Naryn

TALAS OBLAST´

CHUSKAYA OBLAST´

NARYNSKAYA OBLAST´

ISSYK - KUL´SKAYA OBLAST´

OSHSKAYA OBLAST´

DZHALAL -ABDSKAYA

OBLAST´

K A Z A K H S T A N

C H I N A

T A J I K I S T A N

UZBEKISTAN

Daraut-Korgan

Sary-Tash

Kek-Aigyp

Toktogul

Bishkek

Tunuk

NarynUgyut

Talas

Ala-Buka

Kara-Kul

Tash-Kömür

Kok-Yangak

Uzgen

Kyzyl-Kiya

Jalal-Abad

OshGulcha

Alay-Kuu

Khaidarken

Tokmak

Ysyk-Köl

Cholpon-Ata

Tyup

Przhevalsk

Enilchek

Shyirak

Kara-Say

Ravat

Sulyukta

Mayluu-Suu

Kara Balta

Mayluu-Suu

National capital

Oblast´centerTown, kishlakMajor airport

International boundary

Investigation area

Oblast´boundary

Main roadSecondary road

Railroad

Legend

Kyrgyzstan

0 25 50 75 100 125 150 km

0° 30° 60° 90° 120° 150° 180°

30°

60°

30°

0°

Kyrgyzstan

iaea – umreg meeting, vienna, 07.11.2012 impact of uranium mill tailings on water resources in...

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